India outplayed: Kiwis soar in Ranchi to take series into decider

Five-match series levelled at 2-2 as Guptill, bowlers help deliver 19-run win

There was to be no chasing masterclass from India this time around as New Zealand cantered to a 19-run win over the hosts in the fourth ODI at The Jharkhand State Cricket Association stadium complex in Ranchi to level the five-match series 2-2 and take it into a decider.

The Black Caps posted 260-7 after skipper Kane Williamson opted to bat first on a slow pitch.

Opener Martin Guptill, who had been woefully out of form in the entire tour, showed his class with a resilient 72 off 84 balls that laid the foundations of the New Zealand innings.

It was a welcome return to form for a player that had managed just 39 runs in three ODI innings before this.

New Zealand’s opening stand of 96 in 15.3 overs set the tone for their innings but India’s trio of spinners suffocated them for runs in the middle overs. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra claimed 2-42 in his 10 overs, left-armer Axar Patel took 1-38 in 10 while off-spinner Kedar Jadhav gave away just 0-27 in his eight overs.

The Black Caps came with a clear plan, taking 150 runs off the pacer’s 22 overs at 6.81 runs an over, while the spinners went for 110 runs in 28 overs at 3.93 an over.

Like New Zealand, India seemed to be cruising along at 98-1 in the 20th over and seemed odds on to claim the series with their third win but the wicket of the talismanic Virat Kohli on 45, caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, sparked a collapse that saw the hosts lose wickets at regular intervals.

Medium-pacer James Neesham dismissed both opener Ajinkya Rahane (57 off 70 balls) and skipper MS Dhoni (11 off 31 balls) to leave India reeling.

Tim Southee then came on and dismissed Manish Pandey and Jadhav off successive balls to further hammer home New Zealand’s advantage, forcing the last recognised batting pair of Patel and Hardik Pandya to consolidate.

However, the restless Pandya was dismissed soon after as he tried to up the ante — caught in the deep off Mitchell Santner for nine off 13 balls.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2016.

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